Chapter 75

〈 Chapter 74 〉 3. Transformation is not just for Riders! (10)

* * *

She transformed.

It seemed that the gimmick of making the entire body shimmer with iridescent light, which was thought to apply only to E-class Yumir, also applied to EX-class Yumir, as she turned herself iridescent and immediately changed her appearance.

The tactical mask and visor had an SF vibe, while her head was wrapped in a yangban maiden's cloak, the kind that women in the Korean Folk Village might wear. The end of the cloak reached down to her thighs, revealing her legs below.

What should I call this?

An armored maiden?

A noble mech lady?

Despite the bizarre concept, it somehow suited her. Perhaps it was because of the strangely attractive breastplate, or the stockings and leg lines visible beneath the skirt.

It felt like I was looking at some bizarre concept art, but since Yumir's body supported it, it was oddly appealing.

"What, what is that?"

I was focused on the outfit, but Ermina seemed to be focused on something else.

"How can you have such magic power...!"

[You were admitted as an E-class, but in reality, you're an incredibly powerful being, right? Can't you see?]

"You, you...!"

Ermina was extremely flustered.

The woman she had endlessly belittled was actually someone far above her, someone she dared not look at casually.

"No way! That can't be! You, you must be an illusionist! You're tricking me right now!"

[You're taking it too far, really.]

"No way! Someone like you, someone like you...!"

It must feel like meeting a shabby man in a hotel, dressed in a wrinkled black shirt and jeans, whom you had insulted and belittled, only to later find out he was one of the top ten richest people in the world.

"There's no way! There's no way you could be S-class!!"

Ah.

She started to lose her cool.

One of the most common patterns for a superpowered individual to go berserk had been triggered.

Inferiority complex.

Not just any inferiority complex, but one that reverses the power dynamic.

The various emotions she felt upon seeing someone who used to be below her suddenly surpassing her.

And the lingering aftertaste of the mana powder she had briefly handled.

"Die!!"

As soon as these emotions mixed, Ermina, clearly in a state of delirium, attacked Yumir.

Aaaaahhhhh!!

Should I call it a dolphin's ultrasound?

The voice she emitted from her mouth was imbued with mana, spreading out towards Yumir and soon turning into a sonic boom that advanced towards her.

[Tsk.]

I raised my goblin club.

Though she seemed delirious, the trajectory of the sonic boom was precisely aimed at Yumir's neck.

It was an attack intended to kill.

She hadn't completely lost her mind; she was attacking with the intent to kill.

I had to step in and execute her immediately.

But.

[You're too slow.]

Yumir casually flicked her black-gloved hand, deflecting the sonic boom.

Swooshhh!

The sonic boom that flew towards the sea dispersed as it crossed the water, and Yumir, unscathed, shook her hand lightly and slowly walked towards Ermina.

[If that's all you've got, it's my turn now.]

As Yumir flicked her hand to the side, a red rope-like object shot out from the air.

Should I call it a whip, or a rope used to bind prisoners?

No.

It's an oragiri.

Unlike modern ropes, it's a red rope from the Joseon era, materialized using mana.

Though it looks like a regular rope, the material that makes up this rope is entirely 'magic power.'

The ability to materialize objects using mana.

Indeed, she is a being with EX-class talent.

[I'll show you the difference in power.]

Swish!

The moment Yumir swung the oragiri, the rope coiled like a whip and flew towards Ermina.

Aaaaah! Ah, aaaaah!!

Ermina repeatedly screamed and retreated.

Though she continuously generated sonic booms, Yumir's red whip deflected them all.

Bang!!

Sonic booms exploded on either side of Yumir, sending up clouds of dust.

Through the dust, Yumir emerged unscathed, and Ermina, seeing this, trembled and continued to retreat.

Overwhelming power.

Faced with the overwhelming magical power of an S-class, Ermina ultimately collapsed, her legs giving out.

"Haha...! You, you were hiding your true identity! Yes! You must have had a reason to hide it! I will expose you! Your true form!"

[You fool. If I was worried about my identity being exposed, would I have transformed so openly?]

"What, what do you mean...?!"

Ermina frowned, but in the blink of an eye, Yumir rushed over and grabbed her collar.

"K-keuh!"

[I see you're afraid of your identity being exposed. Nothing happened here, and nothing happened to you.]

Yumir aimed her hand towards Ermina's heart.

[If you reveal anything, you'll die on the spot. Have you heard of a seal? Or a curse? The moment you try to reveal my identity, the oragiri imprinted on your skin will tighten and kill you.]

Slowly.

The oragiri began to coil around Ermina.

The mana-imbued oragiri quickly bound Ermina's entire body...

'Wait a moment.'

Isn't this a kigae binding...?

Whoosh.

Just as I thought the rope was glowing, it instantly disappeared, binding Ermina's body.

And I saw.

Inside Ermina's body, under her clothes, the red marks left by the kigae binding were visible, glowing with magic power.

If she took off her clothes, the red marks from the kigae binding would be clearly visible.

"What did you do to me?!"

[I left a magic tattoo that won't disappear for a year. The moment you decide to reveal my identity, the oragiri imprinted on your skin will start to tighten. Try it. Say that Yumir was hiding her power.]

"Y-Yumir... Ahh!!"

Ermina screamed and buried her head forward.

She wasn't trying to generate a sonic boom; she was genuinely in pain, screaming in agony.

[How does it feel? I can do things like this. So behave yourself. Don't belittle people so easily. I'm only letting you off because it's me. Got it?]

"G-grk...!"

[Look at me properly. Are you not grasping the situation? I could kill you right now, but I'm just letting you live because it's a hassle.]

"What...?"

At first glance, it might seem illogical.

But that's the truth.

[I don't care if you die. But if I kill you, it will be a hassle. A-grade, the granddaughter of Stern. If you die, they'll naturally try to extract information from me. It's a hassle. I don't like that.]

"Y-you...!"

[Even if Ermina dies, it doesn't matter. But if the great Lady Sternperdt dies, it will be a hassle for me. Got it? Then you...]

Just as Yumir was about to step back, stroking Ermina's head.

"Die!"

Ermina thrust her palm upwards, aiming directly at Yumir's lower abdomen.

Her palm was imbued with mana, shining like a blade, and it struck Yumir's lower abdomen precisely.

Clang.

It should have made a sound of flesh being pierced.

But there was no such sound, and Yumir calmly took a step back.

[This is a bulletproof hanbok. Or should I call it a blade-proof hanbok?]

"Y-your clothes...?"

[Your attack doesn't affect me. But really... How disappointing. I decided to spare you, and you try to stab me. If I were weak, I would have definitely been stabbed and fallen. And died.]

Yumir didn't change her expression—though it's hard to tell because of the mask, her voice conveyed the feeling—and tilted her head to the side.

[What should I do with someone like you? Huh? Are all superpowered individuals in this world just self-centered fools who get angry and lash out, only to satisfy their own emotions?]

"Sh-shut up...! I, I...!!"

[Sigh. Really, what should I do.]

Yumir genuinely sighed.

Perhaps she was deeply disillusioned with Ermina, leading to a moment of despair.

I became a villain to avoid feeling such things.

If it were me, I would have taken the attack, using it as a pretext—

[If I were a goblin, your stab would have instantly decapitated you. It would be self-defense.]

...Yumir mentioned goblins.

Did she notice I was here?

'Should I step in?'

To kill Ermina instead of Yumir?

Or to properly educate Ermina?

'I'll step in.'

Whether Yumir forgives her or not.

If Ermina is to truly repent, a good beating is the first step.

Someone who tried to stab another person.

Someone who tried to cut another person's throat.

Since Yumir decided to spare her, giving her 50 strikes with a goblin club would be a fitting punishment.

'Then—'

Just as I was about to step out and persuade Yumir, then punish Ermina.

Suddenly.

From a distance.

Someone was running from the sea.

Black hair.

Black mask.

And a black hanbok.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu